Why do we not study the Bible more? Why is it so easy to let our Bibles rest on the shelf, alongside all of those novels we promised ourselves we would read?
I ran across Romans 15:4 and it struck a chord with me this week. Paul writes, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Why do we not want to learn? We go through life asking so many questions, seeking answers, and getting frustrated when we come up short. It might very well be possible that many of the answers we seek are sitting in the one place we so often refuse to look.
Through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope…Wow! What two things did Paul just say about the Scriptures, the Word of God? They have endured! After all of these years, the Word of God is still here…still being printed…still being translated into various languages…still available. After all of these years, this book is still changing lives for those who would risk opening it!
Paul also said that the word encourages! Very few people in my lifetime have ever mentioned reading the word of God and walking away discouraged. These pages are full of hope…full of promise…full of love…full of grace…full of, well, I could go on and on. Rather, I will let you find encouragement in these words from Psalm 34:17-18; 22…
"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit…The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him."
As the Scriptures endure…so shall we! As the Scriptures encourage…be encouraged! Read the Bible daily and discover the hope that it offers.
Blessings…
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